Unlike their bottom-dwelling counterparts, these fishes hang out near the bottom of the sea floor. This group includes many of the rockfishes and perches.

Density of demersal fishes (MARE data)

A figure showing the abundance of near-bottom dwelling fishes observed from a remotely operated vehicle from 2005 to 2014. Figure credit: MARE.

A figure showing the abundance of near-bottom dwelling fishes observed from a remotely operated vehicle from 2005 to 2014. Figure credit: MARE.

Click for Details Marine Applied Research and Exploration (MARE) data on abundance of demersal fishes along seafloor transects. Fish are counted using remotely operated vehicle (ROV) visual surveys of mid-depth (20 to 80 meters) rock and subtidal soft bottom in CINMS. Fish density was averaged across all monitoring sites, including sites located inside and outside of marine reserves and conservation areas, to examine course-scale trends. From 2005—2009, fish greater in length than 10 centimeters averaged 110 total fish per kilometer of surveyed transect. In 2014, average total fish per kilometer was 279, an increase of 250 percent. At a finer scale, fish density may be responding differently inside and outside of some marine protected areas (MPAs) in CINMS. For more information, consult Figure App.F.13.18 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.
A figure showing the abundance of near-bottom dwelling fishes (lingcod, sheephead, gopher rockfish, copper rockfish, and vermillion rockfish), observed from a remotely operated vehicle from 2005 to 2014. Figure credit: MARE.

A figure showing the abundance of near-bottom dwelling fishes (lingcod, sheephead, gopher rockfish, copper rockfish, and vermillion rockfish), observed from a remotely operated vehicle from 2005 to 2014. Figure credit: MARE.

Click for Details Marine Applied Research and Exploration (MARE) data along seafloor transects on abundance of five species of demersal fish, lingcod, sheephead, gopher rockfish, copper rockfish, and vermillion rockfish. Fish density was averaged across all monitoring sites, including sites located inside and outside of marine reserves and conservation areas, to examine course-scale trends. From 2005–2009, the total counts for these five species combined annually averaged 15 total fish per kilometer of surveyed transect. In 2014–2015, average counts per transect rose to 38 and 44 fish, respectively. At a finer scale, fish density may be responding differently inside and outside of some marine protected areas (MPAs) in CINMS. For more information, consult Figure App.F.13.19 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

A map showing the locations of West Coast Groundfish Bottom Trawl surveys in the Southern California Bight and around point conception from ~2003 to 2014. Data source: NMFS NWFSC; Map credit: M. Cajandig/NOAA.

A map showing the locations of West Coast Groundfish Bottom Trawl surveys in the Southern California Bight and around point conception from ~2003 to 2014. Data source: NMFS NWFSC; Map credit: M. Cajandig/NOAA.

Click for Details Locations sampled by the West Coast Groundfish Bottom Trawl Surveys for demersal fish inhabiting trawlable habitat along the upper continental slope and shelf. Annual surveys have occurred along the entire U.S. West Coast from May to October each year at depths from 55 meters to 1,280 meters. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) per year was calculated for three spatial scales relative to Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary: CINMS included sites within the CINMS boundary (light blue shading, n = 130, 2008–2014, 116 species); CINMS region includes sites inside the red box (n = 639, 2003-–2014, 192 species); Southern California Bight included sites inside the blue box (n = 1,353, 2003–2014, 247 species). For more information, consult Figure App.F.13.21 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.